Fountain keys for multiple point control of fountain blade

ABSTRACT

A PRINTING PRESS HAVING A PLURALITY OF FOUNTAIN KEYS WITH LARGE CALIBRATED DIALS FIXED THERETO SO THAT ADJACENT DIALS ARE STAFFERED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER. ADDITIONALLY, AN ATTACHMENT KIT FOR A PRINTING PRESS IS DISCLOSED. THE KIT INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF FOUNTAIN KEYS WITH LARGE CALIBRATED DIALS DISPOSED THEREON WITH DIALS ON ADJACENT FOUNTAIN KEYS STAGGERED. THE HOUSING INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF STAGGERED APERTURES. THE HOUSING AND THE FOUNTAIN KEYS COOPERATE SO THAT CALIBRATED DIALS ON EACH OF THE FOUNTAIN KEYS ARE EXPOSED THROUGH THE STAGGERED APERTURES IN THE HOUSING. ALSO A KIT COMPRISING CALIBRATED GRIDS FOR TRANSFERRING FOUNTAIN KEY SETUPS ON A FIRST PRINTING PRESS TO FOUNTAIN KEYS ON A SECOND PRESS WHEREIN THE SPACINGS BETWEEN THE FOUNTAIN KEYS ON EACH OF THE PRESSES ARE DIFFERENT.

Nov. 30, 1971 J. LESSUN 3,623,430

FOUNTAIN KEYS FOR MULTIPLE POINT CONTROL OF FOUNTAIN BLADE Filed July 9,1970 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Nov. 30, 1971 J. LESSUN 3,623,430

FOUNTAIN KEYS FOR MULTIPLE P'OINT CONTROL OF FOUNTAIN BLADE Filed July9, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet S //VVEN7'OR JOSEPH LESSU/V ATTORNE V5 Nov. 36,1971 J. LESSUN 3,623,430

FOUNTAIN KEYS FOR MULTIPLE POINT CONTROL OF FOUNTAIN BLADE Filed July 9,1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /23456789 o 2 ?456789/oII/z/3 F/sa P/aa F/G'. I4

lNl/ENTOR JOSEPH LESSU/V United States Patent Int. Cl. 1341f 31/06 US.Cl. 101-365 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A printing press having aplurality of fountain keys with large calibrated dials fixed thereto sothat adjacent dials are staggered with respect to each other.Additionally, an attachment kit for a printing press is disclosed. Thekit includes a plurality of fountain keys with large calibrated dialsdisposed thereon with dials on adjacent fountain keys staggered. Thehousing includes a plurality of staggered apertures. The housing and thefountain keys cooperate so that calibrated dials on each of the fountainkeys are exposed through the staggered apertures in the housing. Also akit comprising calibrated grids for transferring fountain key setups ona first printing press to fountain keys on a second press wherein thespacings between the fountain keys on each of the presses are different.

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of copending patentapplication Ser. No. 729,052, filed May 14, 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates to printing presses and more particularly tomeans for accurately controlling the amount of ink discharged from aprinting press ink fountain to the printing press rolls.

In conventional printing presses fountain keys are utilized to regulatethe amount of ink which is discharged from the ink fountain onto thefountain roller. This is achieved because a plurality of fountain keysare disposed along that edge of the fountain blade which lies adjacentthe surface of the fountain roller. Normally, the fountain blade isbiased radially outwardly from the surface of the roller and thefountain keys are used to overcome that bias to reduce the inkpassageway formed between the edge of the fountain blade and the surfaceof the fountain roller. As the size of the ink passageway increases agreater quantity of ink will be transferred to the ink roller and willappear on the final printed item as a relatively darker color.Conversely, when the ink passageway is reduced to its smallest sizevirtually no ink is transmitted.

As is Well known in the printing art, the set up of a press in oder torun a printing job may take a number of hours. This is because each ofthe many fountain keys in a particular printing press will have to beseparately calibrated by the pressman before he can determine itscorrect setting for the job. By this it is meant that at high and lowsettings of each of the fountain keys the fountain blade remainsparallel to the fountain roller. Historically, calibration has been doneon a trial and error basis, wherein each key is separately turned andadjusted until the final output is satisfactory to the pressman. Theoperation is repeated for every key disposed along the fountain blade.

This technique of calibration includes Working and reworking everyfountain key along the fountain blade because there are internalstresses in the fountain blade which must be worked out by the pressmanbefore the fountain blade can be set to run proper ink flow. Thesestresses comprise torques and strains in the fountain blade resultingfrom the ink being forced through the passageway between the fountainblade and the fountain roller. This is done by working the keys to flexand unfiex the fountain blade so that the blade is finally relieved ofall stresses and a uniform thickness of ink is transmitted to thefountain roller. As indicated, a great deal of time may be expended inproperly setting the fountain keys for a particular run. Since totalmovement of any key will only be about 0.0035 inch only a very slightmovement of the keys is necessary in order to obtain the desired flow ofink.

However, when a job is interrupted, it is necessary to take down thefountain keys set up which has been so carefully and laboriouslyachieved in order to set up for a new run. Again it is necessary to setall the keys by trial and error. As indicated above, this may take anumber of hours. Finally, after the intermediate job is completed, thefirst run must be continued. Again, a great deal of time is expended inresetting the fountain keys in order to produce a run identical to thefirst run. This is done on a trial and error basis wherein only thesubjective eye of the pressman is the judge.

Additionally, it is desirable to be able to set up a printing job on asecond press, wherein the fountain keys on the second press are spaced adifferent distance apart than those fountain keys upon the press whichis already set up. There is no way for the pressman to releate thefountain key arrangement on the first press to the fountain keyarrangement on the second press. One reason for this is that the keysare spaced at different distances along the fountain plate. A secondreason is that there is no guide as to how mush each of the secondfountain keys must be r0- tated in order to get ink transfer thatcorresponds to the first fountain keys. Thus, the pressman must set thefountain keys on the second printing press without being able to takeadvantage of any of the knowledge acquired by the settings of thefountain keys on the first printing press. It

is essentially a brand new job as to that second printing press.

Thus, it would be advantageous to have a means for facilitating thesetting of the fountain blades to relieve to internal stresses thereinprior to running a job. Additionally, it would be advantageous to have ameans which would permit a job to be reset after it has once been set upand then removed so that the subjective eye of the pressman can beeliminated. Further, it would be advantageous to provide a means forpermitting the setting of the fountain keys of a first printing press tobe trans ferred to a second printing press having a different spacing offountain keys so that a job which is run on the second printing presswill be identical to that which is run on the first printing press.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to overcome thedeficiencies of the prior art with respect to fountain keys for printingpresses.

It is another object of this invention to provide fountain keys withcalibrated dials for a printing press.

It is another object of this invention to provide fountain keys withcalibrated dials for a printing press where the dials have anapproximate visual check means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide fountainkeys with large, finely calibrated dials in staggered relationship inadjacent keys.

It is a further object of this invention to provide pointer means tocooperate with calibrated dials on printing press fountain keys in orderto permit accurate repositioning of the fountain keys.

It is still a further object of the present invention to providefountain keys for a printing press which have calibrated dials securedthereto wherein charts may be established for particular runs so thatthe fountain keys may be immediately turned to the proper position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a kit which canbe connected to a conventional printing press so that it can have all ofthe advantages of the calibrated dials set forth herein.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a kit for aprinting press that includes a plurality of calibrated dials instaggered relationship within a cover having a plurality of staggeredapertures.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a kit forattachment to a printing press that comprises a plurality of fountainkeys in a housing which is to be mounted to a printing press and acalibrating means for correlating the positions between the variousfountain keys and the points on a printed sheet.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a kit thatincludes means that enable predetermined fountain key settings on afirst printing press to be transferred to the fountain keys of a secondprinting press so that the second printing press can run the same job asthe first printing press.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear herein.

Generally, the present invention is related to fountain keys havingfinely calibrated dials secured thereto. Charts may be provided so thatit is merely necessary to turn each fountain key to a predeterminedsetting to provide a desired ink flow to the fountain roller andthereafter to the ink ductor. Charts may be prepared so that the keysmay be set in their proper position if any repeat runs of the same joboccur. The provisions of the calibrated dials greatly minimize downtimeof the presses and will permit unskilled workers to set the fountainkeys for repeat runs.

A color code may be provided on the calibrated dials to permit visualchecks in order to determine whether the fountain keys are set atapproximately the proper positions. The dials are finely calibrated andhave large diameters so that accurate adjustment of the fountain keysmay be obtained. The dials may be staggered along adjacent fountain keysso that their large diameters may be accommodated.

Furthermore, the invention includes a kit which is to be attached to aprinting press that comprises an elongated housing and a plurality offountain keys cooperable therewith to accurately position a fountainblade with respect to a fountain roller. Additionally, a calibrated barmay be provided with indicia thereon which correspond to the distancesbetween various fountain keys on the printing press.

Additionally, the invention includes a kit for transferring apredetermined fountain key setting from a first printing press to thefountain keys of a second printing press so that the second printingpress can run the same job as the first printing press.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an ink fountain of a printing presshaving fountain keys constructed in accordance with a preferred form ofthe invention shown there- FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fountain key constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an ink fountain of a printing presshaving a fountain key kit attacher thereto;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a calibrated bar for usewith the fountain keys;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a front view of a fountainroller, fountain blade and fountain keys;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, however, showing a different sizefountain roller, a different size fountain plate and a different spacingbetween the fountain keys;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, however, showing a still differentsize fountain roller, and fountain plate with a still different spacingbetween the fountain keys;

FIGS. l1, l2 and 13 show grids that correspond to each of the fountainrollers and fountain keys illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an overlay for use in connection with thegrids shown in FIGS. 11, i2 and 13.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicatelike elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an ink fountainof the type which may form a portion of a conventional printing press.

The ink fountain may include a fountain roller 12 which normally rotatesin the direction indicated by arrow A. The fountain roller 12 may besupported by a shaft 14 which is suitably journaled in the side plateswhich form a part of the frame of the printing press. The fountainroller 12 cooperates with an ink ductor 16 which is reciprocated intoand out of contact with fountain roller 12 in a conventional manner. Theductor 16 is supported on a shaft 18 which may be journaled in asuitable rocker arm assembly adjacent the side frames of the press. Theconstruction of the printing press itself is conventional and thus willnot be shown in detail.

The ink fountain 10 has a predetermined quantity of ink 20 suppliedthereto. As is conventional, a fountain blade 22 is provided forcooperating with the fountain roller 12. The flow of ink 20 onto thefountain roller 12 is determined by the position of the fountain blade22 which is usually composed of spring steel and is biased radiallyoutwardly from fountain roller 12. Fastening members such as screws 24may secure the fountain blade 22 to plate 26. The plate may be supportedby the frame of the printing press.

A plurality of fountain keys 28 which are disposed along the fountainblade cooperate with the fountain blade in order to control the amountof ink transferred to the fountain roller 12. Each of the fountain keys28 may have flat heads 30 for facilitating their rotation and havethreaded shafts 38 which cooperate with threaded openings in plate 26.The fountain keys 28 may be advanced into the plate 26 to urge thefountain blade to bear against the fountain roller to thereby preventink from being transmitted to ductor 16. Conversely, as the fountainkeys are retracted, the fountain blade moves away from the roller 12 topermit a quantity of ink 20 to be picked up by the fountain roller 12and transfer to ductor 16 and then to the various press rollers.

Each of the fountain keys is substantially identical, and accordingly,the fountain key illustrated in FIG. 3 will be discussed in detail; thatdiscussion being suflicient to describe all of the other keys. Key 28has a dial 32 thereon. The dial 32 may be provided with a plurality offine calibrations 34 so that the degree of rotation of each of the keys,and thus their amount of advancement into the plate, for each run of themachine may be accurately noted. Preferably the peripheral surface ofthe dial should be divided into about 100 increments. Dials 32 arenormally in their zero position when the fountain blade 22 contacts thefountain roller 12.

The outer face 35 of each dial 32 may be provided with a plurality ofdistinct markings 36 to provide a rough visual check as to theapproximate rotative disposition of each of the fountain keys 28.Accordingly, the outer face 35 of the dial 32 may be provided withdifferent colors between the various markings 36 to further facilitatethe visual approximate indication of the rotative disposition of eachkey 28.

An indicator 40 is provided for cooperation with each of the dials 32.Each indicator 40 may be suitably secured to plate 36. The indicatorsare varying lengths in correspondence with the distance of theirrespective dials from plate 26. As shown in FIG. 2, the dials 32 areprovided in a staggered relationship so that large, finely calibrateddials may be utilized without interference between adjacent dials. Thus,it is apparent that if the dials were not staggered their diameterswould have to be substantially reduced. This would reduce the accuracyof the settings available by virtue of the calibrations 34 thereon. InFIG. 2, various keys are shown retracted various distances in order topermit the desired quantity of ink to flow to the ink ductor. Thedisplacement of the fountain keys and fountain blade in FIG. 2 isenlarged for purposes of clarity, although as noted above, the totalmovement of blade 22 may be approximately only 0.0035 of an inch.

As indicated above the displacement of the fountain blade along thefountain roller may be non-parallel for a number of reasons. The mostprevalent reason is that lighter and darker shades of ink are required.Additionally, the blade may be uneven itself. Thus, it is necessary tomove the worn portions of blade closer to the fountain roller than theunworn portions so that a unifor flow of ink will be transferred to thefountain roller. Also, as will be more fully explained herein there maybe a failure of the press rollers to properly transfer the ink to theobject to be printed because of uneveness between adjacent rollers (FIG.6) and thus, it is necessary to increase the amount of ink flowing at acorresponding portion of the fountain roller in order to compensate forthe unevenness.

Each of the dials 32 may be locked to its respective fountain key 28 bya set screw or an Allen nut 42. This permits the dials to be adjusted toindicate Zero after the fountain keys have moved the blade to its closedposition. Each of dials 32 has a central opening 43 therein so that the.dial may be mounted on the fountain key 28 and if desired, the openings43 may be provided with internal threads to cooperate with threads onthe fountain keys 28, to facilitate positioning of the dials 32 thereon.

As an alternative to the construction set forth above, the calibrateddials could be embedded in or fixedly secured to the ink fountain andthe fountain keys provided with pointers secured thereto. Each of thepointers on each of the fountain keys would cooperate with itsassociated calibrated dial in the same manner as herein set forthwherein each dial is secured to its fountain key and the pointer issecured to plate 26.

A further alternate embodiment of the subject invention is disclosed inFIGS. 4-7 wherein the printing press described herein is characteried bya kit which is employed in modifying existing printing presses. In FIG.4 the kit is shown attached to a conventional printing ress.

p The arrangement of the ink fountain, fountain roller and fountainblade are generally the same as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this regard anink fountain 50 is shown in association with a fountain roller 52 whichis rotatably supported on shaft 54. The ink fountain 50 includes an inkfountain blade 56 which is connected to a plate 60. The fountain blade56 may be connected to plate 60 by suitable fastening means.

The fountain roller 52 is shown in contact with ductor 62 which ismoveable into and out of engagement therewith along the arc defined byarrows 64 and 65. The duetor 62 can move into engagement with pressroller 68 which is in turn in contact with a second press roller 70.Each of the press rollers and the ductor is mounted for rotation aboutits own axis. The ductor is attached to suitable ductor arms formovement between press rollers 68 and the fountain roller 52 as is wellknown.

A portion of the printing press frame 72 is shown to have a ledge 74extending parallel to the fountain roller 52. The ledge 74 is providedwith a plurality of threaded 6 openings 76. The openings are disposed inlinear, closely spaced array along the entire length of the ledge.

A plurality of fountain keys are usually arranged so that each one isthreadingly received into one of the threaded openings 76. However,these fountain keys are generally not calibrated in any manner and areoften difficult to handle in that the handles thereon are staggered andotherwise inconveniently situated.

In this aspect of the invention a kit is provided which avoids all ofthe inconveniences of the fountain keys known heretofore in the priorart, and which incorporates all of the advantages of the fountain keysin the printing press described above. The kit includes a housing whichis an elongated hollow member which may be generally trapezoidal inshape. The housing includes a top wall 82, a bottom wall 84, a frontwall 86 and a rear wall 88. The housing may be connected to the printingpress by screws or rivets 90, which are disposed at either end thereof.

Front wall 88 bears against the ledge 74 in order to assure that thehousing is properly positioned thereon. As will be made apparent herein,bottom wall 80 is optional and need not be provided.

The top wall 82 as shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a plurality ofregularly spaced alternately staggered apertures, arranged so that afirst group of apertures 92 are relatively close to front wall 86 andthe second group of apertures 94 are intermediate the first group andrear wall 88. Each aperture is provided with an indexing mark 96 whichis used for reading the calibrations on the dials. Additionally, eachaperture and fountain key may be identified by a number or letter 97.

A plurality of fountain keys 98 similar to those which have beendescribed above are provided. In this regard each of the fountain keysincludes an elongated threaded shaft having an enlarged generallycylindrical calibrated dail 102 fixed to it. The dials are held inposition on each of the threaded shafts by virtue of a suitable setscrew or Allen nut as described above. The dials on adjacent threadedshafts are staggered so that adjacent dials are displaced axially withrespect to each other. By virtue of this arrangement each of the dials102 corresponds to one of the aforementioned apertures 92 and 94 in thetop plate of housing 80 and its periphery is visible therethrough.Preferably the periphery of the dials extend through the apertures topermit the calibrations thereon to be read against the indexing marks96. Additionally, because the dials are staggered, adjacent dials may besubstantially larger than those dials known heretofore. As is apparentfrom the illustration, each dial can have a radius which is equivalentto substantially the distance between adjacent threaded shafts. Byvirtue of this arrangement much greater accuracy in the calibrationmarkings on the dials than has ever been achieved before can beaccomplished. Also magnifying lenses can be placed over each of theapertures 94 to further enhance the accuracy of dial settings.

It is to be noted that each of the threaded shafts is substantiallylonger than the transverse distance of the housing 80. Accordingly,suitable apertures are provided in front wall 86 and rear wall 88 sothat the shaft can be accommodated therethrough. Further, if bottom wallis ommitted the apertures in the front and rear walls may be replaced bynotches or recesses. Also, it can be seen that the end of each of thethreaded shafts is provided with a knurled handle 104 to permit therespective fountain keys to be turned.

By using the fountain keys described herein, calibration of a fountainblade to a particular fountain roller and press roller with which it isassociated becomes a relatively straight forward matter. In order tocalibrate the fountain blade and fountain roller the pressman rotatesone of the fountain keys until it presses the fountain blade against thefountain roller while ink is in the fountain. In this positiontheoretically no ink should flow.

Then, by use of the calibrated dials in the subject invention which haveapproximately 90400 increments on their periphery, the dial is backedoff about increments so that a visible trace of ink is transferred tothe ductor 62. The remaining fountain keys are then adjusted so that thethickness of ink which they permit the fountain blade to transfer is thesame thickness as that which is transferred by the first key. Normallythis is a visual procedure by the pressman. After a uniform thickness ofink is transferred, all of the remaining dials are set to that markingwhich was set on the first dial. Then, all of the keys are backed out adistance from the fountain blade, a distance equivalent to a rotation ofabout another increments. This permits some of the aforementionedstresses in the fountain blade to be relieved.

In order to determine the extent of remaining stresses the fountain keysare then advanced so that each of the calibrated dials is at the samereading. If an uneven quantity of ink is transmitted to the ductor, thenthose fountain keys adjacent the non-conforming ink patterns are eitheradvanced or withdrawn in order to properly position the fountain blade.As indicated above, in addition to uneven ink resulting from stress inthe blade, it may also result from uneveness in the blade or in thefountain roller. This also is compensated for by this adjustment. All ofthe fountain keys are then backed off and tightened a number of timesuntil all of the stresses are worked out of the blade and it distributesan ink thickness which is uniform across the ductor when all of thefountain keys are set at either the same high or the same low dialsetting.

As is apparent, the facility with which the fountain keys can bereturned to their previous positions and to which adjacent fountain keyscan be adjusted with respect to each other is implemented and madepossible to a large extent by virtue of the calibrated dials.Furthermore, because of the large diameters of these dials and therelative number of markings that can be put on the periphery thereof,precise accuracy in the positioning of the fountain keys can beachieved. It is to be noted for example, that on fountain keys of thetype employed in this device there are generally about 28 threads perinch. Thus, one full rotation of the dial will advance the fountainblade about 3.68 10 inches. Furthermore, because of the calibrations onthe the dials, the amount of advancement of each of the fountain keyscan be controlled to approximately of that or 3.6X10 inches.

After all of the stresses are worked out of the fountain blade, it maybe set to deliver the desired quantity of ink at each of the variousstations along its length. Since the fountain dials have been calibratedpreviously, now each of the dials will be set at a different valuecorresponding to the amount of ink desired. The pressman merely makes anotation of these values as they correspond to each of the fountainkeys, so that if the fountain keys have to be reset, once the fountainblade is calibrated with all stresses removed it is merely necessary toreturn each of the fountain keys to its predetermined dial position toset up the press run as before.

Additionally, as often occurs, a discrepancy in ink transfer is locatedat a substantial distance from the fountain roller and fountain keys.This may be because there is unevenness in the rollers such asillustrated by the gap 106 between rollers 68 and 70 (FIG. 6). Normally,the task of locating those fountain keys which control the amount of inkbeing transferred to that portion of the roller is located by trial anderror. However, the subject kit is provided with a device which iscalibrated to the positions of the various fountain keys on the printingpress in order to greatly facilitate the solution of this problem.

Calibrated bar 108 (FIG. 7) may be a hollow elongated member that is atleast as long as the distance between the fountain keys at each end ofthe fountain roller. If desired, the calibrated bar may be solid or ofany convenient configuration.

As illustrated in FIG. '7, a preferred form of the calibrated bar mayhave a beveled front wall with a pinrality of spaced indicia 112thereon. Each of the indicia 112. may be identified by a number orletter 113 which is the same as the corresponding number or letter 97 onthe housing 80. The distance between adjacent indicia 112 on thecalibrated bar 108 is the same as the distance between adjacent fountainkeys 98.

The calibrated bar is used in connection with the fountain keys tofacilitate the adjustment of the fountain blade. In this regard, thepressman merely has to run a sample sheet. The calibrated bar isarranged transversely of the sheet. Those portions of the sheet whichdemonstrate uneven or undesirable printing characteristics areidentified with the particular fountain key associated therewith byvirtue of the correspondence of the indicia on the calibrated bar andthe various fountain keys. Then the pressman merely has to adjust theparticular fountain key that corresponds to that indicia mark in orderto correct the ink flow.

Thus, the calibrated bar makes it relatively simple for a pressman todetermine which of the fountain keys must be adjusted in order tocorrect the ink flow.

Additionally, it should be noted that the calibrated bar described andillustrated in FIG. 7 can also be used in conjunction with the fountainkeys and printing press illustrated in FIGS. 1 3.

By utilizing the calibrated dials of the type disclosed herein it ispossible, with a suitable kit described herein; to enable the fountainkey positions which have been set up on a first printing press to betransferred to a second printing press wherein the spacing between thevarious fountain keys on both printing presses is different. A criticalelement in achieving this result is that the rotational position of eachof the fountain keys for a particular job can be precisely determined bythe fountain dials. The kit for achieving this transfer is illustratedschematically in FIGS. 8-44.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show fountain rollers 120, and 140, fountain blades:122, 132 and 142 and fountain keys 123, 133 and 143. Each of thefountain key sets includes calibrated dials 126, 136 and 146 of the typedisclosed herein and end fountain keys 124, 134 and 144. The arrangementof fountain roller 120, fountain blade 122 and fountain keys 123 isdesignated as A in FIG. 8. The arrangement of fountain roller 130,fountain blade 132 and fountain keys 133 in FIG. 9 is designated by B.The arrangement of fountain roller 140, fountain blade 142 and fountainkeys 143 in FIG. 10 is designated as C.

it should be observed with regard to arrangements A and B that each ofthe fountain rollers is of the same length and each of the fountainblades is engaged by a different number of fountain keys. Furthermore,it should be noted that with regard to arrangements A and C the fountainrollers are of different lengths and there are different spacingsbetween the fountain keys. For example, as illustrated, arrangement Ashows a setup of ten fountain keys, arrangement B shows a set up ofthirteen fountain keys, while arrangement C shows a set up of sixteenfountain keys.

The transfer kit which is described hereinafter enables a fountain keysetup on the apparatus comprising arrangement A to be simply and easilytransferred to the fountain keys in arrangements B or C.

The kit comprises a plurality of members that define grids 148, 158 and168. The members may be comprised of any suitable and convenientmaterial, Additionally, a substantially transparent member 180 isprovided.

Grid 148 which corresponds to arrangement A includes suitable meanswhich may define an ordinate 150 and an abscissa 152 (FIG. 11). Suitablemeans 154 are provided for dividing abscissa 152 into a plurality ofspaced intervals. Each of these intervals correspond to the spacesbetween adjacent keys 123 on arrangement A. Additionally, a suitablemarking device 156 is provided in order to locate that point which wouldcorrespond to the midpoint between the end fountain keys 124.

Grid 158 corresponds to the fountain key positions on arrangement B. Inthis regard FIG. 12 shows means defining an ordinate 160 and an abscissa162. In a manner similar to that described above abscissa 4162 isdivided by suitable means 164 into a plurality of intervals so that eachof the intervals corresponds to the distance between adjacent fountainkeys 133 in arrangement B. Additionally, a suitable marking device 166is provided in order to locate that point which would correspond to themidpoint between the end fountain keys 134.

Thus, it should be noted that the intervals on abscissa 152 are relatedto the intervals on abscissa 162 by the same factor or proportion thatrelates the spacing between adjacent keys 123 to adjacent keys 133. Ifthe distances between the end fountain keys in arrangements A and B arethe same then the length of abscissas 152 and 162 should be the same.

Grid 168 (FIG. 13) includes means defining an ordinate 170 and anabscissa 172. Additionally, suitable means 174 are provided for dividingthe ordinate 172 into a number of intervals that correspond to thespacing between adjacent keys 143 in arrangement C. Finally, a suitablemarking member 176 is provided to locate that point which corresponds tothe midpoint between the end fountain keys '146 in arrangement C.

Since the distance between the end fountain keys 146 in arrangement C isgreater than the distance between the end fountain keys 126 inarrangement A, abscissa 172 will be longer than abscissa 156 by a factoror proportion that is the same as the ratio of the distances between theend fountain keys in each arrangement. For example, if the distancebet-ween end fountain keys 146 is three times the distance between endfountain keys 126, then abscissa 172 would be three times as long asabscissa 152, Similarly if the distance between end fountain keys 146 isless than the distance between end fountain keys 126, i.e. fountainroller 140 is shorter than fountain roller 120, then abscissa 172 wouldbe 10% shorted than abscissa 152.

The substantially transparent member 180 is provided with means thereondefining an abscissa 182, and a second means 184 thereon for definingthe midportion of that abscissa.

The technique for utilizing this transfer kit can be described initiallyby referring to arrangements A and B. Arrangement A has its fountainkeys set to run a particular job in accordance with the techniquesdescribed above. After the fountain blade 122 has been calibrated eachof the fountain keys 124 are advanced or withdrawn in order to providethe desired ink transfer onto the fountain roller and ductor.

As indicated earlier, now each of the dials 126 on each of the fountainkeys 123 will be at a different setting. The settings correspond to thedistance of the fountain blade 122 from the fountain roller 120 so thata higher setting will correspond to a greater amount of ink transfer anda lower number will correspond to a reduced amount of ink transfer. Eachof these dial readings are transferred to grid 148. As is apparent eachof the dividing means 154 corresponds to a fountain key position for oneof the fountain keys 124. The distance measured upwardly along each ofthe dividing means 154 corresponds to the amount of rotation of eachdial. A suitable scale may be provided along ordinate 150 to simplifythis procedure.

It should be noted however, that on all grids that the transfer kitcomprises, identical distances measured along ordinates of differentgrids correspond to identical degrees of rotation of the respectivefountain keys.

In order to transfer the dial settings of keys 124 to the correspondingkeys 134 on arrangement B, substantially transparent member 180 isplaced over grid 148. Center markers 156 and 184 are aligned as areabscissas 152 and 182. Then, a point corresponding to the dial settingof its 10 respective fountain keys is plotted along each of the dividing means 154.

FIG. 11 shows grid 148 after the plot of fountain dial positions againstfountain keys has been drawn on member 180. Thus, it can be seen thatmore ink is transferred at fountain key position 3 than at fountain keyposition 2. Similarly, from fountain key positions 5 through 9 theamount of ink being transferred is gradually reduced.

The substantially transparent member can now be removed from grid 148illustrated in FIG. 11. The substantially transparent member 180, afterthe plot of fountain key positions has been drawn thereon, isillustrated in FIG. 14 wherein a curve 186 is shown overlying abscissa182. The curve when positioned on grid 148 is indicated at 186A.

With this basic information, curve 186 on substantially transparentsheet 180, it is possible now to set the fountain dials for eitherarrangement B or arrangement C in order to run the identical job onthose printing presses. Taking first arrangement B, member 180 is placedover grid 158 so that abscissa 182 is aligned with abscissa 162 andcenter marker 166 is aligned with center marker 184. Curve 1256 onmember 180 takes the position illustrated at 1861) in FIG. 12. Asindicated above each of the dividing means 164 on grid 158 correspondsto each of the fountain keys 134 in arrangement B. Thus, it is merelynecessary to determine where curve 186B crosses each of the dividingmeans 164 to determine at what setting the fountain key that correspondsto that dividing means should be set at, since identical distances alongthe ordinates correspond to identical degrees of rotation. Thus, byinspecting the overlay of curve 186B on grid 158 it can be seen that theamount of ink to be transferred increases from fountain keys 2 to 3 andthen reduces from foun tain keys 4 to 5. Similarly, the amount of ink tobe transferred is steeply reduced from fountain keys 6 through 9 andthen gradually reduced from fountain keys 9 to 12.

In like manner curve 186 can be placed over grid 168 so that the centermarker 184 and the abscissa 182 on sheet 180 overlie abscissa 172 andcenter marker 176 on that grid. Curve 186 takes the position illustratedat 186C in FIG. 13. Each of the dividing means 174 in grid 168corresponds to each of the fountain keys 134 in arrangement C. Thus, itis merely necessary to determine where curve 186C crosses each of thedividing means 174 to determine at what setting the fountain key thatcorresponds to that dividing means should be set at. The dial settingsfor each of the fountain keys is read as explained above.

It should be noted that a separate grid would be prepared for everyfountain key configuration that is available. Each grid would haveproportional spacing between intervals along their abscissas, and, ifmarked, in advance the intervals along their ordinates will be the same.Thus, once a master curve 186 is drawn, it can be utilized to set up ajob on any press having a key configuration for which there is a chart.All that is necessary is that the master curve 186 be placed in alignedoverlying relation to the particular grid corresponding to the printingpress at hand, and the settings for each of the fountain keys can beread thereoif.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the attachment kit disclosed hereinmay be used and installed on existent presses. Also, after the dialshave been used for a relatively short period of time, it will bepossible to more rapidly set the dials for a new run since the pressmanwill associate various calibrations with desired quantities of ink.Also, by use of the dials in the present invention, a visual check maybe made to determine whether each dial is set in approximately theproper color sector, hence, color charts may be provided wherein theproper color for each dial will be indicated on the chart for aparticular run so that it is merely necessary to glance at a row ofdials to determine whether the proper color is adja- 1 1 cent theindicators. Finally, the transfer kit is completely adaptable to anyfountain key arrangement.

While the present invention has been described with reference toparticular embodiments thereof, it is apparent that many other forms andembodiments thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art in viewof the foregoing disclosure. Thus, the scope of the invention should notbe limited by the foregoing specification, but rather only by the scopeof the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for permitting a fountain blade of an ink fountain to beset to a predetermined setting comprising a frame, a fountain rollersupported on said frame, a plate supported by said frame, a fountainblade supported by said plate, said blade having an edge insubstantially tangent relation to said roller and being biased radiallyoutwardly therefrom to normally define an ink passageway between thesurface of said roller and said edge, said plate including a pluralityof closely spaced linearly disposed threaded openings in parallelrelation to said edge of said blade, a plurality of fountain keys ofuniform length, said fountain keys comprising elongated threaded shaftsreceived in said threaded openings, said shafts having one end bearingagainst said fountain blade so that the advancement of said shafts intosaid openings reduces the size of said ink passageway and having anotherend that comprises an operating head, an enlarged dial associated witheach of two adjacent threaded shafts, said dials being comprised ofsubstantially cylindrical side walls that are circumferentiallycalibrated and are fixed to said shafts for rotation therewith, thediameters of said dials being greater than the distance between adjacentshafts, said dials being staggered on said shafts so that they can beaccommodated on said shafts in side-by-side relation without adjacentdials interferring, a circumferential portion of said substantiallycylindrical side walls of each of said dials having adjacent arcuateportions thereof divided into a plurality of zones, each of said zonesbeing of a different color and like color zones on each of said dialscorresponding to the same degree of advancement of the shafts associatedwith that dial, and a painter associated with each of said dials so thatthe degree of rotation of the shaft connected thereto may be set to apredetermined setting, said pointers being mounted on said plate andprojecting outwardly to cooperate with said calibrations on saidsubstantially cylindrical side walls.

2. In a printing press of the type having a fountain roller and afountain blade wherein the fountain blade is biased away from thesurface of the roller and the printing press frame has a plurality oflinearly disposed threaded openings along said fountain blade, theimprovement of a kit attachable to said printing press comprising anelongated housing to be mounted to said frame and a plurality oflinearly disposed fountain keys cooperable therewith to accuratelyposition said fountain blade with respect to said fountain roller, meansfor mounting said housing on said frame, said fountain keys includingelongated threaded shafts of substantially uniform length to be receivedin said threaded openings to bear against said fountain blade, asubstantially cylindrical calibrated dial fixed to each of said threadedshafts intermediate its ends for rotation therewith, the diameter ofeach of said dials being greater than the distance between adjacentthreaded shafts, said dials on adjacent threaded shafts being staggeredalong their respective shafts with respect to each other, and saidhousing includes a top wall in overlying relation to said fountain keys,said top wall having a plurality of apertures disposed longitudinallythereof with alternate apertures being staggered to correspond to saidstaggered dials, and

a portion of each of said dials is exposed through each of saidapertures.

3. A kit as defined in claim 2 including an elongated bar, said barbeing at least as long as the distance between the end keys of saidfountain keys, said bar having a plurality of indicia thereon, and eachof said indicia corresponds to one of said fountain keys.

4. A kit as defined in claim 3- wherein the distance be tween each ofsaid indicia in said bar is the same as the distance betweencorresponding fountain keys.

5. A kit as defined in claim 4 wherein the radius of each of said dialsis substantially the same as the distance between adjacent threadedshafts.

6. A kit as defined in claim 5 wherein the substantially cylindricalsurface of each of said dials is in substantially the same plane as saidtop wall, said cylindrical surface includes first indicia, said top wallhaving second indicia adjacent each of said apertures so that said firstand second indicia can be compared to determine the amount of rotationof each of said keys.

7. A kit as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said keys has a handle atits end remote from said fountain blade, said elongated housing has afront wall with a plurality of recesse therein and said fountain keysextend through said recess so that said dials are within said housingand said handles are exposed,

8. An ink control mechanism for a printing press comprising supportmeans, a fountain roller supported for rotation by said support means, afountain blade carried by said support means, said blade having an edgethat is disposed adjacent the surface of said fountain roller, saidblade being biased radially outwardly from said fountain roller tonormally define an ink passageway between the surface of said fountainroller and said edge, said support means including a plurality ofclosely spaced linearly disposed threaded openings disposed adjacentsaid edge of said fountain blade, an elongated housing supported by saidsupport means adjacent said threaded openings, said housing having a topwall with a plurality of apertures disposed longitudinally thereof withalternate apertures being staggered, a plurality of fountain keysincluding elongated threaded shafts of substantially uniform lengththreadingly received in said threaded openings, a substantiallycylindrical calibrated dial fixed to each of said threaded shaftsintermediate its ends for rotation therewith, said dials in adjacentthreaded shafts being staggered along their respective shafts withrespect to each other so that a portion of each of said dials is exposedthrough each of said apertures, and the radius of each of said dials issubstantially the same as the distance between adjacent threaded shafts.

9. An ink control mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said elongatedhousing has a front wall with a plurality of recesses formed therein,each of said recesses being aligned with one of said apertures so thatsaid fountain keys extend therethrough, and each of said fountain keyshas a handle at its end remote from said fountain blade so that saiddials are within said housing and said handles are exposed.

10. An ink control mechnism as defined in claim 9 wherein a magnifyinglens is positioned over each of said staggered apertures in saidhousing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,112,412 9/1914 Adam 1013651,272,396 7/1918 Dixon et al. ll6l29 E 2,161,943 6/1939 Baue 10l3653,185,088 5/1965 Norton 101365 X J. REED FISHER, Primary Examiner

